Sir
The community of Ward 7, Glencoe and Thelapi, was invited to a public meeting in the Town Hall to discuss the proposed draft budget.
I told Councillor Dr Sandy Bedassi that I have maximum respect for him. I told him that over two five-year terms I did not learn everything about the systems which exist within the council. I don’t expect him to master everything either. However, helping the community and making sure that their needs are attended to, being accessible to your people when they need you does not require any training.
These are the basic things which we do as councillors.
These are the things for which we are elected and get paid to do.
I did not succeed with the housing delivery because people inside the municipality sabotaged the entire Endumeni housing sector plan. Councillor Mbatha-Makhathini was Mayor when a delegation from our council went to go and meet the then MEC Maggie Govender and her department. We discussed title deeds and low cost ‘RDP’ housing projects.
The MEC committed R100-million for housing in Endumeni. Ward 1, which is now Ward 7, was going to benefit by about R20m at that time at the end of 2010. Two things happened. There was internal sabotage and we had to vacate office. I cannot account for the five years thereafter.
So based on the above the community has mandated the ward councillor not to support the budget until the needs of the community are addressed. Before the budget is circulated for approval it is incumbent upon the councillor and his colleagues to return to his community for inputs from the community as to what are their needs and wants.
I faced many hostile meetings in the same ward but with skill and honesty and I managed each situation well. Mind you I also had some good friendly meetings.
I was pleased with Councillor Bedassi because he told me that he is committed to implementing the mandate of his community and he will not support the budget in its current form.
Pravesh Bisram
